This new work is notable because embalming balms were not static: they changed over centuries, and they could differ from head to torso, suggesting specialized treatments for different body regions. The result is a kind of chemical time capsule - one that curators may be able to read without taking a scalpel to priceless artifacts comments Phys.org.
- Ready for the Afterlife: The Mummification Process in Ancient Egypt
- What Do Egyptian Mummies Actually Smell Like? New Study Reveals…
“Sniffing” Mummies Without Samplng the Bandages
Traditionally, identifying embalming ingredients has often meant removing a small piece of balm-soaked linen and dissolving it, an approach that can cause irreversible damage. The new method instead captures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the “headspace” around mummified remains and storage containers, then identifies them with advanced chemical analysis.
Egyptian mummies on display, British Museum, London. (Bram Souffreau/CC BY-SA 2.0)
In this study, a team from the University of Bristol analyzed 35 samples of balms and bandages from 19 mummies covering more than 2,000 years. Their technique (HS‑SPME‑GC/Q‑TOFMS) separated complex molecular mixtures into identifiable signatures - essentially letting researchers infer what types of substances were used in the balms.
The headline takeaway is scale and sensitivity: the team reported identifying 81 distinct VOCs. Those compounds clustered into four main ingredient groups linked to ancient embalming practice - fats and oils, beeswax, plant resins, and bitumen.
Canopic jars were used by ancient Egyptians to store and preserve the viscera of a corpse during the mummification process. Commonly made from carved limestone or pottery they were used from the Old Kingdom until the Late Ptolemaic Period. (Ca.garcia.s/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Four Key Ingredients and a Timeline Hidden in the Air
The chemical “fingerprints” weren’t uniform across history. Researchers found earlier mummies tended to show simpler signatures dominated by fats and oils, while later periods more often revealed complex mixtures including expensive resins and bitumen. That pattern hints at shifts in economics, ritual preferences, trade access, and the professionalization of embalming over time.
Even more intriguing, different body parts sometimes carried different VOC profiles. In other words, the head could “smell” chemically distinct from the torso, suggesting embalmers used different mixtures for different anatomical regions, perhaps reflecting separate treatments for face, scalp, and internal cavities.
That idea dovetails with what many readers already know about the broader ritual sequence: drying with natron, packing, anointing, and wrapping, steps that could easily accommodate separate recipes applied at different stages. For a wider look at those traditions, see Ancient Origins’ overview of mummification in ancient Egypt and its broader survey of mummification methods across cultures.
Future “Smell” Research
Beyond reconstructing ancient recipes, the technique offers a practical advantage: it could serve as a rapid, non-destructive screening tool for collections. The researchers argue that VOC analysis can provide useful preliminary information without compromising fragile remains, even if physical sampling may still be required for some follow-up work.
It also lands in a wider moment for “sensory archaeology.” In 2025, for instance, a separate research effort described ancient Egyptian mummified bodies as often “woody,” “spicy,” and “sweet,” challenging the assumption that mummies must smell unpleasant. That earlier scent-focused work helped underline that odor can be data - not just atmosphere.
For readers interested in the wider “history of smell” angle, Ancient Origins also maintains a topic stream on ancient odors, covering how scent connects to culture, ritual, and lived experience.
Top image: Ancient Egyptian Exhibits of the archaeological Mummification Museum in Upper Egypt. Source: Dave/Adobe Stock
By Gary Manners
References
Arnold, P. 2026. Scents of the afterlife: Identifying embalming recipes by “sniffing” the air around Egyptian mummies. Available at: https://phys.org/news/2026-02-scents-afterlife-embalming-recipes-sniffing.html
Radley, D., 2026. Scents of ancient Egypt: tracing embalming recipes by analyzing air around mummies. Available at: https://archaeologymag.com/2026/02/scents-of-mummies-embalming-recipes/
Zhao, W., Clark, K. A., Evershed, R. P., Roffet-Salque, M., & Bull, I. D. 2026. Volatile compounds reveal the composition of embalming materials used in Egyptian mummification. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2026.106490
University College London. 2025. Ancient Egyptian mummified bodies smell “woody,” “spicy” and “sweet”. Available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/feb/ancient-egyptian-mummified-bodies-smell-woody-spicy-and-sweet
